Improvement in car-couplings



H. T. BOOK. Gar-Coupling.

No. 220,663. Patented Oct .14,1879.

' r is wnmzss'ns mvjgmm my J BY JAM/W ATTORNEYS.

MFETERB, FHUKO-LITNOGRAPMER. WASHINGTON u c UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE.

HARRISON T. BOOK, OF HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,663, dated October 14, 1879 application filed September 19, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRISON THOMPSON BOOK, of Hot Springs, in the county of Garland and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and Improved Oar-Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 shows a sectional and side elevation of the coupling and attachments. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation. Fig. 4. is a sectional view 'of the draw-head detached from the car. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the draw-head uncoupling. Fig. 6 is a rear view, showing a lever attachment.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention consists of a draw-head, A, composed of two parts, a and 11, forming what may be called a pair of jaws, of which the one is movable and the other fixed. The movable jaw a is pivoted on pin 0, passing through 11.

When the connecting-pin B, which has a conical head on each end, is thrust into the opening 0 of the draw-head, the jaw a lifts to admit one head of it into the recess D, and is then closed and held down by springs E E.

By the operation of the lever F the inner end of the jaw a is depressed and the tongue 11 lifted, so as to raise the pin-head clear of the lip l and permit its withdrawal. The draw-head itself iskept forward in its usual place by the spiralspring k.

The lever F, which is attached to jaw a of the draw-head and operates it for uncoupling, has its fulcrum, as shown, at L, and extends out to or beyond the side of the car, and the handle of it is restrained and guided by upright guides M. This lever may be operated from the ground; but should it be desirable to operate-it from the roof of the car the cord or chain N, of which one end is attached to the handle of the lever, while the other passes over guide-pulley O to the Windlass-rod P, will serve as the medium.

A pin, R, is used to thrust through a hole in the guides just above the handle of the lever F, to hold it in place when uncoupling from the ground, or to prevent accidental uncoupling.

Two other levers, S, pivoted at l, and T, having a fulcrum at d, and attached at f to S, are of great advantage under certain con ditions. The lever T extends far enough above the top of the car for attachment to it of a rope, rod, or chain with a hook at the other end. Should the brakeman wish to leave the car in a condition to couple again without his further assistance, (when itis uncoupled and the jaws to and bare held apart by the lever F, controlled from the roof of the car,) he has only to place the hook g in a hole at h in the catchblock or pawl i, when, by the concussion of the cars coming together, the drawhead is driven back, moving the lever S with it, which transfers motion through lever T and causes the withdrawal or disengagement of the pawl from the windlass rod, and permits the dropping of the handle of the lever F andihe consequent closing of the jaws of the draw-head.

A hood or cover is secured over the pulley O and cord or chain N, to protect them from rain and ice.

The two levers V and W, Fig. 6, are here shown to demonstrate the way in which they may be attached to passenger-cars in combi nation with or to Operate in lieu of lever F. The lever Vis pivoted at O, and is connected by rod, chain, or rope P to the handle of le ver W. Lever W is pivoted at S, and one end of it extends to about half-way between the buffers of the car. To this end may be attached a rod, chain, rope, or another lever, connecting it with jaw a at or ncar the connecting-point of lever F.

It will be evident that through this system the jaw a can be readily opened for uncoupling. It is proposed more especially to apply this system to passenger-cars.

Instead of the windlassrod P, a lever having a fulcrum a few inches from the edge of the car-roof can. be used for uncoupling.

To the shorter end of the lever the cord N may be attached, while the other end of the lever may extend to near the brake-rod, for the convenient control of the brakeman, and be held down by a spring-latch, the releasing of which will permit the coupling of the cars by closing the draw-head jaws upon the connecting-pin head.

The levers, for the purpose of working the draw-heads, are preferably placed on alternate sides of the cars, for two purposes: First, the operator may uneouple an entire train when he is on the ground at either side of the train; and, second, should a car by any means get turned around end for end, it would remain in the same relative position to another car or cars as it was before it was changed.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of the guides M, the cord or chain N, the pulley O, and the windlass-rod 1, substantially as and for the pur' pose described.

2. The combination of the levers S and T h. V. (JoRNIsH, '1. W. Gums. 

